Prepared

The following is a blog written by a CH staff member from Barrie.   I took it from the Presbyterian Church of Canada's devotional website. http://daily.presbycan.ca/devotions/2011/11-09-14.html .  I spoke with Julie about putting a link to that site.  We love to hear from staff serving all over the place so if you have written something please send it a long.  I am sure others would be encouraged by what God is teaching you. 

Mark Wallace

Philemon 1:6 - I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. (NIV)

As I walked along the lakefront very early on one particular morning, I noticed that a crew was very busy. People were watering the large gardens of flowers. Another person had a tractor, and he was raking the beach sand. Others were cutting and trimming grass, and another was washing the pathway with water. It was very early, and the sun had just risen, yet it was evident that a lot of preparation was in progress.

As I walked along, I thought of all the people who, in a few short hours, would flock to the beach to enjoy the flowers and the cut and trimmed grass and the freshly raked sand. Would those people even know about all the preparation that had gone into this day in the hours prior to their visit?

As I reflected on this, I thought of all the preparation that went into the marvellous event of God sending His Son to earth for us. Yet there still are people who are unaware of this preparation and the fact that Jesus came and made a way to heaven for us. This way will outlast all the trimmed grass and raked sand of this earth.

Revelation 4:11 - You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. (NIV)

What about us? Are we busy making preparations that are of this world, or are we placing our focus on helping those who have not heard the gospel to prepare for the next one? It is easy to get caught up in this world, but we are called to a greater mission, and that is the sharing of the gospel.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we ask that You would help us daily (and in some cases, moment by moment) to align ourselves to be Your hands and feet to a lost and perishing world. Instil in us a new passion for who You are in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Julie Bowles Barrie, Ontario, Canada